Nearly 300 arrested in immigration raids at poultry plants

[Ban Hammer 12,839]

IRVING, Texas - Nearly 300 people were arrested Wednesday in immigration and identity theft raids at Pilgrim's Pride poultry plants in five states.

More than 100 people were arrested on immigration violations in Chattanooga, Tenn., and Moorefield, W.Va., with 45 arrests in Mount Pleasant, Texas, on charges of false use of Social Security numbers.

More than 25 people face administrative charges of immigration violations in Live Oak, Fla. They will also face identity theft or document fraud charges. More than 20 were arrested in Batesville, Ark., on federal warrants for alleged document fraud or identity theft.

"We knew in advance and cooperated fully," said Ray Atkinson, a spokesman for the Pittsburg, Texas, company.

Pilgrim's Pride faces no charges, he said.

The raids were part of a long-term investigation, officials said. Plants were raided in Mount Pleasant, Texas, Batesville, Ark., Live Oak, Fla., Chattanooga, Tenn. and Moorefield, W.Va., authorities said.

Atkinson said the company went to ICE agents with information about identity theft at the Arkansas plant. The company uses a federal database to check identity documents of new employees, but that wouldn't stop a person from using a real, but stolen ID, he said.

The company has about 55,000 employees and operates dozens of facilities, mostly across the South and in Mexico and Puerto Rico.

The poultry raids were the largest of several immigration enforcement actions taken across the country Wednesday.

Agents arrived before dawn at a Houston doughnut plant and arrested almost 30 workers suspected of being in the country illegally. Robert Rutt, the agent in charge of the Houston ICE office, told the Houston Chronicle some of the people arrested lived at the Shipley Do-Nuts dough factory, a four-block plant that includes a dormitory for workers.

In Buffalo, N.Y., federal law enforcement officials announced the arrest of a local businessman and 10 associates accused of employing illegal Mexican immigrants in seven restaurants in four states.

The restaurants' owner, Simon Banda, who also uses the name Jorge Delarco, of Depew, N.Y., is charged with conspiring to harbor illegal immigrants. Banda appeared in court without a lawyer Wednesday and was given until Friday to hire one. Magistrate Judge Hugh Scott ordered him detained until then, based on the government's assertion that Banda is a Mexican citizen who is in the United States illegally.

Six of Banda's restaurant managers, including two of his brothers, also made initial appearances. Javier Banda of Depew was released on $5,000 bail. Honorio Banda was held because he is allegedly in the country illegally.

One other manager was released on bail, another was held because of outstanding warrants and the others were detained because of their illegal status.

Authorities also arrested at least 45 illegal immigrants during the early morning raids in western New York, Bradford, Pa.; Mentor, Ohio; Wheeling and New Martinsville, W.Va.; and Georgia. Authorities said the workers were forced to staff the Mexican restaurants for long hours with little pay to work off smuggling fees and rent.

In Atlanta, a federal grand jury indicted 10 people from suburban Atlanta employment agencies on charges they placed illegal immigrants in jobs at Chinese restaurants and warehouses in six states. The agencies allegedly developed a network to "recruit and exploit" undocumented workers, said Kenneth Smith, special agent in charge of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement office in Atlanta.

Between October 2006 and April 2008 the agencies advertised their services and charged immigrants a fee for finding a job, without requiring any proof that the workers were allowed to work in the U.S, prosecutor David Nahmias said.

The restaurants in Kentucky, New York, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Florida and Alabama allegedly often provided housing and paid workers in cash to avoid taxes, Nahmias said.

The charges are not related to immigration raids at Pilgrim's Pride plants.

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[Hilarious Clinton 452]

Nice. Looks like there will be some job openings for legal immigrants and USCs.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Good. Turn up the heat.

[SqdnGuns 21]

Good. Turn up the heat.

They could do better if more of those who know of illegal immigrants employed start turning in the employers to the State and ICE.

[sparkofcreation 0]

Nice. Looks like there will be some job openings for legal immigrants and USCs.

Oh, please. As long as the employers continue to get off scot-free, they'll continue to hire illegal immigrants who will work for minimum wage and no benefits. Legal immigrants and USCs want things like a living wage, sick time, and medical coverage.

[Ban Hammer 12,839]

Nice. Looks like there will be some job openings for legal immigrants and USCs.

Oh, please. As long as the employers continue to get off scot-free, they'll continue to hire illegal immigrants who will work for minimum wage and no benefits. Legal immigrants and USCs want things like a living wage, sick time, and medical coverage.

true. that is why i'd like to see some really stiff fines for employers who knowingly hire them.

[Krikit 1,163]

One of our members' husband just got a job at a chicken factory in Arkansas. Wonder if she'll be reporting in? Link

[BabyBlueSusie 1]

One of our members' husband just got a job at a chicken factory in Arkansas. Wonder if she'll be reporting in? Link

i know, i thought of that too!!!!

[PlatyPius 5]

Link?

[HAL 9000 96]

I guess the arrested can't be accused of being chicken...

[Niels Bohr 72]

Geezes. I posted a similar article relating to the same event. Somebody beat me to it.

[BabyBlueSusie 1]

Link?

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...p;#entry1744176

[panamania79 2]

Nice. Looks like there will be some job openings for legal immigrants and USCs.

We can only wish.These are the industries who nowadays refuse to hire anyone but an illegal immigrant.

Nice. Looks like there will be some job openings for legal immigrants and USCs.

Oh, please. As long as the employers continue to get off scot-free, they'll continue to hire illegal immigrants who will work for minimum wage and no benefits. Legal immigrants and USCs want things like a living wage, sick time, and medical coverage.

And 401k and a retirement fund.

[Heracles 417]

Nice. Looks like there will be some job openings for legal immigrants and USCs.

We can only wish.These are the industries who nowadays refuse to hire anyone but an illegal immigrant.

Nice. Looks like there will be some job openings for legal immigrants and USCs.

Oh, please. As long as the employers continue to get off scot-free, they'll continue to hire illegal immigrants who will work for minimum wage and no benefits. Legal immigrants and USCs want things like a living wage, sick time, and medical coverage.

And 401k and a retirement fund.

I don't know why congress are dragging their feet on this issue. There is a lot they can do. This is a federal issue.

They can fine the company. Personally fine the managers. Personally fine the directors. Close down the businesses of repeat offenders etc. I am talking about large fines such as $25,000, per offense, and up.

Edit: I am sick of seeing Americans being short-changed and illegal immigrants being exploited at the expense of others profiteering.

Edited April 17, 2008 by Boo-Yah!

[LaL 418]

From the Handbook for Employers as Published by USCIS (I-9 verification)

Q. What is my responsibility concerning the authenticity of document(s) presented to me?

A. You must examine the document(s) and if they reasonably appear on their face to be genuine and to relate to the person presenting them, you must accept them. To do otherwise could be an unfair immigration-related employment practice. If the document(s) do not reasonably appear on their face to be genuine or to relate to the person presenting them, you must not accept them.

Sounds like a rock & a hard place for the employers. Just one example, but I am not looking to defend anyone, just something I had dealt with when working with an agency in FL.